It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
